East Sooke

A black bear hunts for food along the Sooke River. Unsecured garbage is fuelling a surge in bear reports in Sooke. (Kerrie Reay - Sooke News Mirror)

Unsecured garbage and compost fuel surge in bear sightings in Sooke

Wild Wise Sooke urges limiting bear attractants

 

The Sooke Salmon Enhancement Society collect brood chinook salmon brood stock in the Sooke River. (Contributed – SSES)

Swimmers aid DFO in assessing returning Vancouver Island salmon numbers.

Chum well below average across southern B.C.

 

Two air source heat pumps installed on the exterior of a house. The Capital Regional District offers discounts to switch from an oil, natural gas, or propane heating system to an air source heat pump. (Shutterstock)

Innovative CRD home energy program spurs community collaboration

Regional district promotes neighbourly savings with heat pump discounts

 

Sofia Slobodeniuk faces the challenges of a move from Ukraine with her two children one day at a time.(Rick Stiebel - Sooke News Mirror)

Ukrainian single mom facing challenges in Sooke

Sofia Slobodeniuk made a year-long journey from Ukraine to Canada

Sofia Slobodeniuk faces the challenges of a move from Ukraine with her two children one day at a time.(Rick Stiebel - Sooke News Mirror)
Shaine Edward is competing in both the wakeboard and wakeskating events at the World Wakeboard Competition July 13 to 16 in London, England. (Photo contributed)

Sooke athlete making waves in London

EMCS student off to England for wakeboarding competition

Shaine Edward is competing in both the wakeboard and wakeskating events at the World Wakeboard Competition July 13 to 16 in London, England. (Photo contributed)
Sooke RCMP have again called off the search for a missing hiker after an extensive effort on the weekend failed to yield results. About 80 volunteers from about 10 agencies took part in the effort to find Melissa McDevitt, who was reported missing to Victoria police on Dec. 10, 2022. (File - RCMP)

Extensive search for missing hiker in Sooke suspended

New leads spark renewed search for Melissa McDevitt

Sooke RCMP have again called off the search for a missing hiker after an extensive effort on the weekend failed to yield results. About 80 volunteers from about 10 agencies took part in the effort to find Melissa McDevitt, who was reported missing to Victoria police on Dec. 10, 2022. (File - RCMP)
Stick in the Mud regulars Jim Meunier, left, Wendy O’Connor, and Bernie Klassen have formed a co-operative to keep the popular coffeee shop and gathering place open after July 23. (Rick Stiebel - Sooke News Mirror)

Community unites to save beloved Sooke coffee shop

Customers launches co-op effort to keep Stick in the Mud

Stick in the Mud regulars Jim Meunier, left, Wendy O’Connor, and Bernie Klassen have formed a co-operative to keep the popular coffeee shop and gathering place open after July 23. (Rick Stiebel - Sooke News Mirror)
Artist submissions for the Sooke Fine Arts Show is June 1. Three jurors are expected to judge more than 300 art pieces from portraits to woodworks. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Deadline approaching for Sooke Fine Arts Show

Artists must submit work by June 1

Artist submissions for the Sooke Fine Arts Show is June 1. Three jurors are expected to judge more than 300 art pieces from portraits to woodworks. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
The Juan de Fuca electoral area has put together an evacuation guide to help prepare for emergency events. (File photo)

Where to go when disaster strikes

CRD electoral areas release evacuation guidelines

The Juan de Fuca electoral area has put together an evacuation guide to help prepare for emergency events. (File photo)
An artist working on a painting in a studio. Sooke is a member of the CRD arts commission. The commission supports, celebrates and promotes not-for-profit organizations in the region. (Shutterstock)

Cost of CRD arts contributions questioned in Sooke

Coun. Dana Lajuenesse wants more mentoring for Sooke’s arts community

An artist working on a painting in a studio. Sooke is a member of the CRD arts commission. The commission supports, celebrates and promotes not-for-profit organizations in the region. (Shutterstock)
Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke MP Randall Garrison won’t seek re-election. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)

NDP MP Randall Garrison announces he won’t seek re-election

Sooke mayor cited as a possible candidate

Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke MP Randall Garrison won’t seek re-election. (Kevin Laird - Sooke News Mirror)
Stick in the Mud owner David Evans is closing the restaurant and coffee house on July 23. He hopes a community co-operative steps up to keep the business brewing. “This place wouldn’t be what it is without the best staff and customers,” he said. (Rick Stiebel - Sooke News Mirror)

Popular Sooke coffee house nears last brew

Stick in The Mud Coffee House owner counts down to closing after 16 years of business

Stick in the Mud owner David Evans is closing the restaurant and coffee house on July 23. He hopes a community co-operative steps up to keep the business brewing. “This place wouldn’t be what it is without the best staff and customers,” he said. (Rick Stiebel - Sooke News Mirror)
(Metro Creative)

Sooke Celtic FC’s storybook season ends in disappointment

Lose 1-0 to Bingers Army in semifinal

(Metro Creative)
The South Vancouver Anglers Coalition will release 650,000 salmon fry in the next two months. (Contributed)

Anglers association to release 650,000 chinook fry in Sooke Basin

Community-based project supports local fisheries and wildlife

The South Vancouver Anglers Coalition will release 650,000 salmon fry in the next two months. (Contributed)
Former premier John Horgan (left), T-Sou-ke Nation elder Shirley Alphonse, Juan de Fuca Electoral Area director Al Wickheim, and former CRD director Mike Hicks take part in grand opening ceremonies for Sooke River Jack Brooks Hatchery on Saturday. (Photo by Kerrie Reay)

Long-awaited Sooke hatchery opening hooks a crowd

Sooke River Jack Brooks hatchery a reality thanks to dedicated volunteers

Former premier John Horgan (left), T-Sou-ke Nation elder Shirley Alphonse, Juan de Fuca Electoral Area director Al Wickheim, and former CRD director Mike Hicks take part in grand opening ceremonies for Sooke River Jack Brooks Hatchery on Saturday. (Photo by Kerrie Reay)
Torque Masters Car Club vice-president Curtis Smith, president Ken Coward, and vice-president Jim Clayton stand inside their clubhouse March 28. The club’s latest community effort is fundraising to buy at least one reliable used car for the Ukrainian Safe Haven in East Sooke. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Sidney car club fundraising to buy vehicle for Ukrainians fleeing war

Torque Masters Car Club’s latest community project to benefit Ukrainian Safe Haven in East Sooke

Torque Masters Car Club vice-president Curtis Smith, president Ken Coward, and vice-president Jim Clayton stand inside their clubhouse March 28. The club’s latest community effort is fundraising to buy at least one reliable used car for the Ukrainian Safe Haven in East Sooke. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Eunice Charles (left) and Weyla Chipps-Roy have travelled as far afield as Rotterdam in the Netherlands during their journey to work as deckhands in the marine industry. (Courtesy of Weyla Chipps-Roy)

Scia’new pair excited by ‘really cool’ job after training to be deckhands

Weyla Chipps-Roy and Eunice Charles will help bring the K.J. Gardner to Cheanuh Marina

Eunice Charles (left) and Weyla Chipps-Roy have travelled as far afield as Rotterdam in the Netherlands during their journey to work as deckhands in the marine industry. (Courtesy of Weyla Chipps-Roy)
A work crew tackles giant hogweed. The toxic plant can cause severe reactions in humans. (Kelly Mulhern - CRD)

Vancouver Islanders urged to give hogweed a giant berth

Toxic plant can cause severe reactions

A work crew tackles giant hogweed. The toxic plant can cause severe reactions in humans. (Kelly Mulhern - CRD)
Several of the members of the Ocean Resources team have returned to live within the Scia’new First Nation’s territory after living elsewhere for years. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

Western science meets traditional knowledge at Scia’new’s Ocean Resources centre

The centre is part of an effort to bring jobs and people home to Scia’new, according to Chief Russ Chipps

Several of the members of the Ocean Resources team have returned to live within the Scia’new First Nation’s territory after living elsewhere for years. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
The Capital Regional District board has turned down a proposal to split a 10-hectare parcel of East Sooke into two because directors found no agricultural advantage. (Lynda McFaul - Shutterstock)

CRD rejects proposal to subdivide East Sooke property

Decision based on preserving agricultural land

The Capital Regional District board has turned down a proposal to split a 10-hectare parcel of East Sooke into two because directors found no agricultural advantage. (Lynda McFaul - Shutterstock)